Tithing

 

Finishing up  the Book of Nehemiah today and tomorrow, and in the last chapter, Nehemiah brings up three areas of concern. Three areas in which the returning Jews had backslidden. We would do well to explore them because they have a tendency to slip back into acceptance among the churched even today. The first area of concern was the sin of Tobiah. Tobiah had sought to use the temple as his own personal storehouse. This is the age old issue of prosperity gospel.

 

The second area of concern was the neglect of the tithe. Ne 13:10 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field.  11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. 13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

This neglect of the tithe is easy to fall into. I remember the time when bills were piling up and we were running out of money before we ran out of month. My wife and I decided to stop tithing for a while. We blinked! That was a mistake on our part.

 

We were basing our tithing on the principle laid out in Malachi which states: “Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?' 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts; (Mal 3:7-11)

 

This passage is so rich with promises. Want God to make a return call in your life? (v7) Tithe!

 

Want to have the charge of robbery against God dropped? (v8) Tithe!

 

Want a blessing from heaven? (v10) Tithe!

 

Want the devourer to back off from your physical blessings? (v11) Tithe!

 

When we stopped tithing, it was rather odd, but appliances started wearing out, car repair bills increased. In short we were losing financial ground. So, after a couple of months, we reprioritized our spending and made tithing our number one priority again. We cheerfully gave ten percent of our income to the Lord and haven’t looked back.

 

In fact, we discovered that the tithe in Malachi is really what is known as the second tithe and we reprioritized again to the 20% giving level. Don’t let that scare you away from tithing. Just let the promises of cheerful giving be your guide, and tithing is a good place to start!

 

This kind of giving is not relegated to the Old Testament, listen to the challenge of giving and it’s associated promises found in 2Co 9:7-13, “ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,

Be generous! Cheerful giving is pleasing to God (v7)

 

Be generous! God will see to it that you have sufficient resources and abundance for every good work you give to. (v8)

 

Be generous! God will bless what you sow! Righteousness will increase as you bless others with what God has blessed you. (v10)

 

Be generous! It’s one of the reason’s God has blessed you with material goods. (v11)

 

Be generous! Your generosity to the needy results in thanksgiving to God! (v12)

 

Be generous! Your liberal giving and sharing is proof positive that God is working in your life for His glory! (v13)

 

Have you let your tithing and God-led generosity slip as they did in Nehemiah’s day? Take the time to reprioritize your spending and start every household budget with giving of your firstfruits to God. It’s all His anyway, and in so doing you give honor and glory to Him!